AcademyU21s match report: Eventful derby ends in draw for Liverpool at Goodison Park

There were quickfire goals from each team during the first half at Goodison Park – through Will Wright for the Reds and Jack Patterson for the Blues.

Both sides received red cards in the final throes and it perhaps fairly came to a conclusion with the score all-square.

The home club could have got themselves in front early on having broken into a two-on-two situation attacking the Liverpool goal.

Ceiran Loney eventually aimed a curler towards the right corner that Harvey Davies was equal to with a diving punch behind.

And the Reds promptly went up the other end and struck instead.

It came via a tidy passing move that saw Isaac Mabaya feed the ball into the run of captain Michael Laffey into the area.

Laffey picked out the waiting Wright in the centre and the striker opened up his body to guide a clinical left-footed finish into the far side of goal.

Liverpool’s lead was frustratingly short-lived, though, as Patterson found the target just three minutes later to equalise.

An attritional passage of play typical of a derby fixture followed, before several promising chances for the Reds ahead of half-time.

Oliver O’Connor streaked into space through the right channel and, having gone into the box, unselfishly opted to square rather than shoot – but it was slightly behind intended recipient Wright.

Then a lofted cross from the right by Mabaya found Josh Sonni-Lambie at the back stick. He dragged his effort wide of the near post, however.

The visitors began the second period brightly, yet neither side was able to fashion much in the way of clear opportunities.

There was, though, the welcome sight for the Reds of Jayden Danns returning to action after injury, soon after the hour mark.

The forward went close to an immediate impact with 71 on the clock, too.

Bringing a left-wing cross under control in the box, Danns’ drives at goal were thwarted by a defender and then the goalkeeper, while the rebound was put off target by O’Connor.

As time ebbed away and the contest appeared to be petering out, minor chaos unfolded.

Everton had the ball in the net via Rocco Lambert’s finish, only for it to be chalked off due to the referee having already blown for a free-kick to the Blues.

Liverpool lost goalkeeper Davies to a straight red card when he mistimed a sliding challenge on Justin Clarke as he rushed out from goal attempting to clear.

With their allotted pauses in play to make substitutions used up, the Reds could not introduce a replacement ’keeper, meaning defender Mor Talla Ndiaye took the gloves.

The home side were then reduced to 10 men as a result of an ill-judged reaction by Braiden Graham on Joe Upton that led to a fracas.

There were half-chances for both rivals in the closing moments – including a save from emergency stopper Ndiaye – but the points were ultimately shared.

Team

Liverpool: Davies, Mabaya (Onanuga, 78), Pitt, Lucky, Ndiaye, Trueman (Upton, 78), O’Connor, Laffey, W. Wright, Figueroa (Danns, 62), Sonni-Lambie (Bradshaw, 68).

Unused subs: Ayman, Misciur, Cisse.

Goal: W. Wright (15)

Next up

Liverpool host Leeds United at the Kirkby Academy on matchday two of the new Premier League 2 season next Sunday (August 30).

Kick-off is 1pm BST and the game will be streamed live on All Red Video.